Energylinx News

E.ON has committed to replacing its standard variable tariff (SVT) with a fixed term tariff for any customers that have a smart meter installed. In addition, any SVT customer who already has a smart meter with E.ON will be offered a move to a replacement one-year fixed tariff.

Starting in early 2018 standard variable tariffs will no longer be the default option for people coming to the end of their existing tariff. Instead, customers will have the option to 'roll over' on to the latest version of a fixed term contract. Existing standard tariff customers who have a smart meter, or who have arranged to have one fitted, will move to a new fixed term tariff with the same 'roll over' option or, if they really don't want to, they will have the possibility to opt out and remain on an evergreen variable tariff.

The new one-year fixed tariff will have a price fixed for one year to give customers security. Like a standard variable tariff, this fixed term tariff will have no exit fee and customers are free to engage with the market as they see fit. In the same way as today, customers will be prompted to consider all E.ON's tariffs to choose a new tariff that best meets their needs.

Michael Lewis, CEO of E.ON UK:

"Standard variable tariffs have had their day. Tomorrow is about customers feeling free to engage with the market with tariffs that work for them."

"We believe standard variable tariffs have had their day. Tomorrow is about helping customers engage with the market with tariffs that work for them. We want to take action now to make that happen for our customers and we'll work with Ofgem and BEIS over the coming months to make this a reality.

"For us, smart meters are a key means to achieve this move because they represent a natural opportunity for engagement with our customers and the new technology opens up a world of more accurate billing and greater choice. We'll be ramping up our activity next year so we're able to start taking thousands of people off standard variable tariff each week - added to which, their smart future will begin with a price drop.

"However, this isn't only about smart metering customers. We'll also be working on options for classic meter customers joining us or coming to the end of fixed term tariffs. This is about increasing engagement with customers and having better conversations about what they need from their energy supplier, making sure they have the tools and the knowledge to choose a tariff that best suits their needs."

Interested in switching your energy supply to E.ON? Energylinx offer a free and impartial energy comparison and switching service. You can arrange a switch online or by calling one of our energy advisors on 01259 220000.

All current E.ON customers can register for a smart meter to be installed. They can also select from a range of tariffs such as a fixed term contract or the new Cap and Track tariff so they can see the benefits of a fixed product whilst waiting for a smart meter to be installed.

New data released by Energy UK has shown that the number of households that have switched energy supplier this year has already surpassed the total amount of customers who switched in the whole of 2014.

Nearly half a million customers (444,653) arranged an energy transfer in August 2017 - 30% more than the same period in 2016. Taking the total number of customers switching energy suppliers in 2017 to nearly three and a half million - surpassing the total number who switched for the whole of 2014 (3.4million).

Customers are benefiting from having a larger choice of energy suppliers, with over 50 energy companies currently in the market. Last month nearly a quarter of all switches (111,932 customers), moved to small and mid-tier suppliers from the larger suppliers.

This follows new data from the regulator Ofgem, revealing that the numbers of customers on standard variable tariffs has fallen by nearly one million in the last six months, following increased activity from energy companies to engage with their customers.

Lawrence Slade, chief executive of Energy UK said:

"The UK energy industry is changing, and at a rapid pace. To see switching increase by nearly a third - an increase of more than 100,000 customers on the same time last year, shows that progress is being made. This is on top of many more customers moving to better deals with their own supplier, a sign of the continued efforts of suppliers to engage with their customers to ensure a fair deal for all.

"There are a record number of companies to choose from, and deals which could save you hundreds of pounds so our advice to consumers is check your deal today - you could save in no time at all."

If your fixed price energy tariff is coming to an end or you're currently on a standard tariff then Energylinx could save you money on your energy bills. Use our free and impartial online energy comparison service or call one of our advisors on 01259 220000. On average our customers save £395*.

*20% of all users over the last 60 days (15 Jul - 12 Sep) achieved a saving of at least £395.14

Today the energy industry regulator, Ofgem, revised the Confidence Code. The revision comes after Ofgem published their decision on the partial implementation of the CMA's 'Whole of Market' remedy and revised Confidence Code requirements in July.

The Confidence Code is a code of practice to govern independent energy price comparison sites, Ofgem oversee the code. Energylinx is a member of the code, along with 10 others.

'Whole of Market' View

Last June, the CMA published their final report into the energy industry. One of the recommendations was that price comparison websites (PCWs) should no longer default to a 'whole of the market' view when a customer completes a quote on their website.

This has now, offically, be rolled out and confidence code members default results page will only include the energy suppliers that they can switch customers to. If a customer wants to view the 'whole of market' then every PCWs result page should have the ability to filter the results.

There has also been a proposed change to the Confidence Code wording to help address concerns consumers may have on whether to trust the results of the PCW. There will be a consultation on new wording to ensure that PCWs provide clear messaging about the market coverage that consumers see in the partial view. This is great for consumers, as it promises transparency and helps builds trust. It also provides the PCW the opportunity to explain the suppliers that they can allow customers to switch to.

Energylinx welcome this decision as it provides our customers with a better switching experience. By focusing the results page on energy suppliers that the customer can switch to and not the suppliers that they will have to go elsewhere for. The customer isn't losing anything from the new default partial view, as they have the power to compare the 'whole of the market' by applying that filter.

Tariff Listed in Price Order

Another decision is that accredited PCWs will have to list tariffs in price order, unless the consumer specifically asks for them to be ordered in some other way.

This is great news as it allows PCWs to add additional filters that can encourage customers to consider different factors such a as supplier ratings or customer satisfaction levels or any additional features rather than just focusing on cost.

Overall today's publication is positive from both the consumer and the PCWs point of view. It empowers the customer to make their own choices on what they can see in the results page and benefits the PCW because they don't have to default the results page to energy suppliers that they don't have a commercial relationship with, but were ultimately providing with free marketing and helping them gain new customers.

You can find the best deal for your energy supplier with Energylinx. Either online or by calling 01259 220000 and speaking to one of our energy advisors. On average our customer save £362*.

Winter is coming... did you know that you could get £140 off your electricity bill for the winter of 2017/2018?

The Warm Home Discount (WHD) is a government scheme aimed at tackling fuel poverty throughout the UK. The money comes in the form of a one-off discount on your electricity bill between the months of October and March and applications for this period are now open.

Large energy companies support people who are in fuel poverty or who are at risk of it. Some smaller suppliers also voluntarily participate in part of the Warm Home Discount scheme.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is responsible for WHD policy and legislation and the energy industry regulator, Ofgem, has the role to administer certain elements of the scheme.

Criteria for the Warm Home Discount

You qualify for the discount if on 9th July 2017 all of the following applied:

• your electricity supplier was part of the scheme
• your name (or your partner's) was on the bill
• you were getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well)

You may be able to apply directly to your electricity supplier for help if you don't qualify because you don't get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit but:

• you're on a low income
• you get certain means-tested benefits
• Check with your supplier to see if you're eligible and how to apply.

What suppliers take part in the Warm Home Discount?

Energy suppliers with over 250,000 domestic customers are required to participate in each element of the scheme.

If you think that you might be eligible for support under the scheme, you can find information on the Gov UK website or (if your energy supplier is listed above) by contacting your energy supplier.

Switch Energy Suppliers to Save More

You can also save money on your energy bills with Energylinx. Over the last 12 months all 6 of the big energy suppliers in the UK have increased their electricity prices substantially, so now it a good time to consider switching suppliers. If you want to make sure that you benefit from the Warm Home Discount then make sure you switch to one of the suppliers listed above.

If you would like to discuss your options with one of our energy advisors please call 01259 220000.

Shopping around for your gas and electricity supplier can cut your utility bills by around £300 a year and you don't have to be in a credit with your current supplier to consider switching energy suppliers. In fact, it could help make it easier to repay what you owe.

Repaying a debt and switching

The options if you are in debt:

• If you've been in debt to your supplier for less than 28 days you can still switch. Any owed amounts will be added to your final bill from your old supplier.
• If you've been in debt to your supplier for over 28 days, you'll need to repay the debt first.
• If it's your supplier's fault you're in debt, they can't stop you from switching.

If you're in debt and have a prepayment meter

The options if you are in debt and a prepayment customer:

• As long as you owe less than £500 for gas and £500 for electricity, you can switch to a new supplier if you are paying off an energy debt through a prepayment meter.
• You are entitled to do so through the 'Debt Assignment Protocol'. This would mean your new supplier takes on the debt and you repay them instead, based on the new terms of your agreement with them.
• Prepayment tariffs are usually more expensive, so you may want to ask about the different options available to you, including if you can change to a standard meter. Most suppliers offer this for free, though some may charge.

If you are thinking about switching your energy supplier and don't know where to start, our advisors will be happy to help you. Please call 01259 220 000. We also offer a free and impartial online switching service. On average our customers save £322.70*.

New figures released from Energy UK show that more than three million customers have switched their electricity supplier, so far, this year.

This is a huge 14% increase on this point in 2016. July this year seen 385,000 customers switch their electricity provider, 16% more than July 2016.

One in five switches went to small and medium sized energy suppliers and the rest went to the "Big Six" suppliers; British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE.

It's expected that the upward switching trend will continue in August after British Gas announced an electricity price increase of 12.5% for 3.1m customers. Duel fuel customers can expect their average annual bill to rise by 7.3%.

Lawrence Slade, chief executive of Energy UK said:

"To see over three million customers switch this year and save themselves money is fantastic. There are now over 50 suppliers to choose from, which is driving innovation, improvements to customer service and providing an incentive to keep prices competitive as suppliers fight to keep and attract customers. "Switching is simple to do, make sure you are on the best deal for you by finding some time to switch or speak with your supplier this summer and you could save hundreds of pounds."

Tina Tietjen, independent chair of the Energy Switch Guarantee, said:

"Despite the myths about switching, it is simple, speedy and safe to switch and nearly 400,000 switched to a better energy deal last month. "You only need your bill to hand to find out if you can be on a better deal and your new energy supplier will take care of everything. Energy Switch Guarantee now covers 74 per cent of the market and provides peace of mind that switching will be hassle-free and quick switch so make sure you look out for the logo."

If you are considering switching energy supplier we can help. You can do a comparison through our website or call one of our energy advisors on 01259 220000. On average our customers save £308.01*.

*20% of all users over the last 60 days (12 Jun - 10 Aug) achieved a saving of at least £308.01

British Gas has announced that they are putting electricity prices up by 12.5% in September. The first increase in energy costs from the UK's biggest supplier since November 2013. Gas prices remain unchanged, meaning that the annual dual fuel bills will rise by 7.3% to £1,120.

The price increase will affect 3.1m customers, with 5.3m unaffected. The average bill cost will rise by £76 and Centrica, the owner of British Gas, has said it will give a £76 credit to more than 200,000 vulnerable customers to protect them from the increase.

British Gas said that the electricity price hike reflected the increasing costs of energy and delivery to customers' home, stating that costs have increased 16% since 2014.

Mark Hodges, head of Centrica Consumer, said:

"We held off increasing prices for many months longer than most suppliers in order to protect our customers from rising costs, so it is a difficult decision to have to announce an increase in electricity prices.

"This rise reflects an underlying increase in policy and transmission costs. We know that keeping energy prices as low as possible is vital, and our new standard tariff price has again been set at a level lower than most of the top 10 suppliers. We are able to do this because we have managed our own cost base tightly."

Hodges followed up the announcement with an appearance on Sky News earlier today. When the reporters challenged British Gas' decision to increase electricity costs, Hodges said competition in the gas market is good" and that their customers "have a choice" to select alternative suppliers.

"Customers do have a choice and can move to many other companies. The barriers to switching are low and that puts pressure on us. That's why we don't make decisions like todays lightly."

Ofgem and the government set out plans to upgrade the energy system this week. By developing new technologies and services, they aim to reduce energy bills for consumers in the long term.

Domestic and business customers will have more given more control over how the use and store energy as part of the Industrial Strategy launched by Business and Energy Secretary, Greg Clark. The report, 'Upgrading our energy system' outlines a plan for a smarter energy system that will help homes and businesses make more informed choices about when they use electricity and charge products.

By removing the obstacles currently in place, the government aims to deliver a more flexible energy system and smart technology to make it cheaper for customers.

The UK's energy system has been changing for a while now, with over a quarter of the UK's electricity being generated through renewables such as solar and wind. The report addresses how this change can be embraced to ensure economic benefits for both businesses and households.

New technologies that help store and manage energy are emerging and the cost to produce and run them is dropping. This has provided the UK with an opportunity to create new businesses and jobs. It is thought that improvements to the energy system and the range of smart technologies being developed will help the country save up to £40bn on energy costs between now and 2050.

Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said:

"Upgrading our energy system to make sure it is fit for the future is a key part of our Industrial Strategy to deliver a smarter, more flexible energy system. A smarter energy system will create new businesses and high-skilled jobs, while making sure our infrastructure is able to cope with demand.

"It's an important part of our Industrial Strategy, given its potential to reduce energy costs, increase productivity, and put UK businesses in a leading position to export smart energy technology and services to the rest of the world."

By rolling out smart meters and enabling energy suppliers to offer lower tariffs and by making it easier for firms to develop smart appliances and gadgets, the plan will help consumers use energy when it is cheapest or get rewarded for returning it to the grid when it is needed.

If you're on one of these energy tariffs, you'll likely be moved to your currents suppliers standard tariff. Now is the time to shop for a new energy supplier as customers on standard tariffs usually end up paying more than they should for their energy.

To avoid this you can do a quick and simple energy comparison with Energylinx that'll show you what you could save. You can also call one of our advisors on 0800 849 7077.

On average our customers save £255.92* on their annual energy bill.

* based on 20% of all users over the last 60 days (20 May - 18 Jul) achieving a saving of at least £255.92.

The latest figures from Energy UK show that the number of customers switching energy supplier has risen by 12%.

The trade body said that 400,000 households changed their gas or electric supplier in June 2017, compared to around 360,000 for the same period in 2016.

The figures show there were 143,155 switches in June from larger to small and mid-tier suppliers, while a slightly higher number (145,028) switched from one large supplier to another.

Around 16% of the switches (64,580) were between small and mid-tier suppliers and 13% (51,410) were from small and mid-tier suppliers to one of the "Big Six" energy suppliers.

Energy UK estimates more than 2,500,000 customers have switched supplier so far this year.

Lawrence Slade, chief executive of Energy UK said:

"Switching continues to become more popular as the energy market becomes more responsive to consumers' needs. To bust another myth it really does just take minutes to switch to a better deal and save money even during this hot weather. Look out for the Energy Switch Guarantee - a commitment by suppliers to ensure a simple, safe and speedy switch."

Have you had a look to see what you could save on your energy bills yet? It's easy. You can either do it or the Energylinx website or by calling one of our advisors on 0800 849 7077.